Being Sensemakers: A Framework for University-Based Rapid Research of Elections, Crisis Events, and Beyond

Abstract

The 2024 Election Rumor Research Project (ERRP) at the University of Washington’s Center for an Informed Public pursued a kind of research often runs counter to traditional academic norms and incentives: it moves fast, responds to urgent public information needs in real time, spans and integrates multiple disciplines, and prioritizes public impact over publication in peer-reviewed journals. Building on two previous election cycle efforts, ERRP operated within a research center designed to support scholarship in the public interest, providing essential infrastructure, staff, funding, and coordination across efforts.

Though academic incentives are often misaligned with this kind of work, there is value in the academy engaging in real-time research and publication during unfolding news events. Echoing the “rumor clinics” of the Second World War—which sought to dispel morale-killing gossip—rapid research projects like ours can help the public make sense not only of what is happening, but also of how rumors, or unverified claims, operate during times of uncertainty. In doing so, they contribute to both civic and psychological resilience. Time-sensitive work also fosters strong relationships among students, faculty, journalists, election officials, and the public—relationships as valuable as the datasets and outputs produced in the course of research. By providing timely insight, such work can build trust in the academy and underscore its civic function.